CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – With Memorial Day coming up Monday, May 25 the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #396, will hold their annual Vietnam Veterans Candlelight Vigil, Sunday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane in Clarksville.
Gary Ezell, with local Chapter #396, talked about the ceremony. “We conduct the vigil to keep the names of the now 28 POW’s/MIA’s from Tennessee in front of the public and remember them yearly. We do a roll call of the 28 names and we place a chair there hoping one day they may return,” said Ezell.
They have one veteran this year to honor and retire his chair. The remains of Army Staff Sergeant Lawrence Woods of Clarksville were returned in 2013. Ezell added that across the U.S. there are approximately 1,300 veterans from the Vietnam War that are not accounted for.
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Guest speaker for the event is retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Garcia. Garcia is the Commanding Officer of the Montgomery Central High School JROTC. The JROTC from Montgomery Central will also carry out the presentation of the colors for the candlelight vigil.